It is always hard for NBA rookies to make a strong impression during their first year, but that hasn’t stopped Craig Porter Jr. of the Cleveland Cavaliers from having an impact.
He was fantastic on Sunday night and had his best game yet against the Denver Nuggets.
Following the game, Carter Rodriguez gave Porter a shout-out for his impressive abilities.
On Twitter, he said, “Craig Porter Jr. just makes you notice him. Truly great at using his athleticism to make splash plays on and off the ball.”
The accompanying video showcased multiple instances worth noticing.
Craig Porter Jr. just makes you notice him. Truly great at using his athleticism to make splash plays on and off the ball pic.twitter.com/vaNsfh3kK0
— Carter Rodriguez (@Carter_Shade) November 20, 2023
On Sunday night, Porter scored 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists as the Cavaliers took down the reigning champions.
They had a fairly large lead at one point before winning by 12 points.
This lead allowed Porter more time on the floor, and he played the most minutes of his young career.
During his 24 minutes on the court, Porter not only scored a lot, but he also had two steals and a block as well.
He played with immense energy and drive and he got the home crowd on its feet.
Porter has averaged just 11.4 minutes during his eight games so far this season.
But the performance he gave on Sunday night was definitely noteworthy—will it be one that head coach J.B. Bickerstaff remembers in the weeks ahead?
Will Cavaliers fans be seeing Porter more often now that he has shown what he is truly capable of?
This time of the season is a chance for newcomers to break out, shine, and surprise the coaching staff and fans.
Porter definitely did that on Sunday.
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